Frustation with the charge nurse

[littleRNthatcould]

Hey guys, long time browser, first time poster here, with what may or may not be a unique problem.

I work in one of the busiest emergency departments in my state. We rarely if ever have what you would consider a slow day. For the most part I am surrounded by GREAT team members, people who are knowledgable and skilled and well, just a fantastic group of people.

The problem is one of our "charge nurses". In my opinion an ER charge should be the ultimate resource person, someone who jumps in and helps, someone there to answer questions for "new" nurses.

So here's the scenario. We recieved two priority 2 trauma's at the same time (MVA rollover with entrapment. Turned out to be minor injuries but you just never know until they get there) The department is already bursting at the seams with patients and the nurses are scrambling. Our charge nurse sat, the whole time and for quite some time after, on the internet looking at dating sites. I'm serious, this person never moved.

And while I realize that we all have bad days, this is not an isolated incident. It is a recurring and growing trend. And it doesn't stop there. Sexually explicit and graphic conversations at the nurses desk (Our department is circular so all the rooms face the desk and I can hear it up the hall!!!) These things happen every time this person works, it drives me insane. The rest of us our busting our collective butts to take care of our patients and this person is picking out internet dates and giving graphic (and icky personal sexual information) to anyone within listening distance!!!

This problem also extends to our "new" nurses. We had one girl who had a patient in a life-threatening situation and she was unsure of what to do. She went to the charge nurse and was met with sarcasm, ridicule and still recieved no help. The charge nurses attitude was "let her do something stupid, then that'll teach administration for hiring her!!":(

So here's the problem, this behavior has been reported before and nothing gets done because this person and our manager are buddies. SO my question is do I take the complaint higher? To the department head? The CNO?

I love my job too much to leave it over something like this, but at the same time the job is frustrating enough without the person in "charge" dragging the whole department down.

So I guess I wonder how you would handle it.

[ptadvocate81]

I don't think that this is an isolated problem. But, with that being said, it is one that needs to be addressed and proper changes need to be made for all involved, nurses and patients alike. Pt care should NEVER suffer because we simply don't agree with administration- what kind of ethics are those?! Anyhow, I believe that it is a biblical principal that can be applied to life in every aspect- rebuke that is. FIRST, you must approach the charge nurse in question and address specific problems with him/her. Then, if that does not solve the problem, start up the chain of command until things are resolved. But prepare yourself to be ousted and perhaps even alienated because whether everyone is in agreement about the problem or not, you will have those who are spineless and would rather work with the situation than to do anything about it or "rock the boat." I wish you the best and keep us posted on how it goes. I hope that this in some way helps....

[Ann RN]

Properly go up the chain of command with written communication. Keep it factual; no opinions. The fact that she is using a hospital computer for "personal" business may be cause for termination - review your hospital policy. Keep a copy of all written communication.

[littleRNthatcould]

Thank you for responding.

I have approached this person, tactfully on a few occasions and said, "you know we could really use your help" and other occasions it has escalated to "GET OFF YOUR #%$&" ! And I'm not the only one to approach this situation. One doc approached this nurse after pain med orders were neglected for over an hour. (again another big issue) He comes up and says, "You know, I'm not a difficult person to get along with." The nurse replied with "Yep, that's what I keep hearing but I've yet to see it." and then turned right back to the internet!!!!!!:angryfire I've been a nurse for almost ten years and I've never seen anything like it!

It's out of control! I guess what they say about "absolute power" is true!

[catlynLPN]

This is most definitely "abuse of authority". That's what they call it on my job.

My boss used to go into her office, shut the door and do cross stitching and quilting. We knew she was doing it, because we could see her bringing the stuff in to work.

But don't let one of US get caught sitting at the desk reading a book or being in between stuff to do.

[NurseCherlove]

I say forget the chain of command - you said that has already been tried to a small degree and with no success. Type an anonymous (because you don't want to be singled out for retaliation) letter to the manager's boss or higher that discusses the situation with specifics. State that you are a nurse and gently remind them of the potential for lawsuits and bad press if something goes wrong with patient care due to her lack of leadership/involvement. Also mention her disrespectful attitude towards the MDs there.

[MrsMommaRN]

from what i have read this "charge" nurse is pretty lazy. what she is doing at work is disgusting. she can not make sexual references while at work. come on. its just shameful, unprofessional, and down right wrong. you have reported it to her superior. now go one above. document the dates of the occurences citing only the facts not hearsay. i wish you luck with this and would like to know the outcome.

[caliotter3]

Follow the advice of NurseCherlove. This individual is putting people at risk. The ER is definitely not the place for this kind of behavior, particularly from a charge nurse. Don't discount the complaint process. One of our nurses went to the DON and reported that the house supervisor slept on night shift and succeeded in getting the woman fired. The DON ambushed the supervisor one night! The complaining nurse didn't bother to be anonymous about it either. (Of course if was in retaliation for having been written up for sleeping herself. Her statement: You f.... with me, I f.... with you. She was right. How hilarious that the person who had been sleeping on night shift for years, prevailed over the relatively new supervisor!)

Take your complaint at least one step higher than it has gone so far. In your complaint mention the dates, time, location of the computer, and length of time spent on the computer if you notice it. Keep up a barrage of anonymous complaints until something happens. Try to be as discrete as possible and don't waste too much work time openly discussing this matter with others, as all this may backfire on you if it gets to the offender's ears. Good luck.

[AlabamaBelle]

Document, document factually. You are in a hostile work environment with sexual harassment happening. Does your facility have an acceptable communication policy that governs computers? Our computers have restricted sites within our hospital network - this extends to PCs that families use - no myspace, no singles/dating sites. Our IS department also tracks where one has been and reprimands have been handed out. This behavior you are describing is totally unacceptable!

[crissrn27, RN]

I agree, go with the chain of command, and keep going up and up until you get someone who cares. I would put my name behind it also, then, when action is taken against this nurse, it will serve as a "warning" to other nurses that you won't tolerate patient (and nurse!) neglect on your shift. You deserve to have a real charge nurse, and so do the other nurses, especially the new ones. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.